Using Acupuncture for Dogs And Cats With Cancer

Yes, acupuncture is proven helpful for symptom management in humans with cancer and would be expected to be equally helpful for dogs and cats. British research in Support Care for Cancer published July 2013 supports the use of acupuncture to help with pain, fatigue, dry mouth, anxiety, and shortness of breath. In addition, it helped those with nausea and vomiting, which can occur as a result of disease or as a consequence of chemotherapy.

What dogs and cats would be good candidates for acupuncture if they have cancer? Most of them, including those with solid tumors, such as hemangiosarcoma, and those pets with blood-borne tumors, such as lymphoma & leukemia.

Unfortunately, most pets with cancer have additional painful health concerns, such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. The good news is that acupuncture treats the whole pet so that these problems can be addressed at the same time.

Can acupuncture cure cancer? No. We’re still looking for a cure for cancer, but we have research evidence and clinical proof that acupuncture can help us with symptoms of cancer.

For the full review of the article, check acupuncture as an intervention for symptom management in cancer supportive and palliative care: an integrative overview of reviews.
Towler P, Molassiotis A, Brearley SG. Support Care Cancer. 2013 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of
print] Univ of Manchester, Manchester, UK.